New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-08
TIRE PRESIDENTS INTERVIEW


President Cleveland appears to be aware
that his official reputation needs repairing
Otherwise he would hardly have consented to
address the public at this time through the
medium OF an interview in "The World
The interview is claimed to be the only one
OFFICIALLY reviscd' since he became Presl-
dent, and is in effect an anticipation oil MS
annual message to Congress in respect to Ger
tain matters upon which the President has
been criticised. Yet 1t is emincntly dlsap-
pointing 1t refrains entirely from discuss on
of the silver question, thus strengthening tho
impression that the Presidents early attitude
in that matter was due to the influence OF Mr.
Tilden 1t carefully avoids the tariff ques-
ton. only mentioning "the questions OF taxa
ton left unsettled by tho last session." 1t
entirely ignores those urgent questions of for
eign policy which have just now a prominent
place in the thoughts OF men who are inter-
ested in the fisheries or in the protection Of
home industries. Apparently the points on
which the President thought it necdful TO
speak. in advance Of the annual message,
were the Civil Service reform, the question OF
denomination. the refusal to call an extra
session and the unfriendliness of the Grand
Army.
The President SAYS that great advance in
Civil Service reform has been effected, in bis
opinion. because the party in power has been
brought to the habit of asking removals Of
Republicans. not On the ground that they are
Republicans. but Oh the protext that they arc
officially unfit OF unfaithful Thoughtful
men will dissent from HIM entirely. Every
intelligent citizen knows that the pretence
has been in the vast ma Orty Of cases fraud
uicnt one The party ha' been trained to
seek a prostlt, ton If the public service u
partisan ends through untruthfu prctences OF
zeal for reform and has been in effect COM
PEELED to make tho SANDER of faithful and OK
pericnced officials the chief instrument OF tho
work of its so-called reform This is hot
progress Nor can wcll-informed men be
found who consider that the new men selected
are on the whole more free from partisanship,
more competent or more faithful thai those
removed Mr. Curtis himself would not make
that claim The President does not mention
the reasons really most potent for declining
to call an extra SESSION, namely that the war
fare of Democratic FACTIONS would have moro
tine and opportunity to divide the party
Neither docs he say whether he VIII DC a can
didatc FOL denomination, but he ia * m Oh
of the labors the aspcl sions and SANDERS Of
public life. and declares that "hc can under
stand no temptation and no reason. except
scrsc CT his obligation as citizen. With
could persuade President to desire a second
term This places the President before tho
people as candidate but not In the most
candid way Tho desire 10 accomplish some
thing deserving Of fame is So honorable
motive that the President need not have
shr,nk from corfcSsine IT.
Tho Distinguishing Characteristic OF this
Presidential pttcrance is its want Of candDr
At every point intelligent American citizens
SCI that the President avoids something or
keeps something back He mistakes the peo-
Die entirely II nc thinks that frequency OF
speech and fucncy Of profession without
ciear-cycd candor will impress them favor
ohIy